56001 emerges from the fog at Shrivenham on 28 September 1985 with a train of MGR empties returning to South Wales from Didcot Power Station. Generally by this date most coal for Didcot came from the Midlands, but there was still the odd working from Wales. Just a few years earlier most of the power station's coal came via this route. I have used a shorter lens here than I would normally use at this location, to lessen the impact of the fog. It was just starting to clear and the sun was almost coming out.

56001 passes Langley on 6 November 1986 with the 6V17 10:00 Allington to Stoke Gifford ARC stone empties. Unusually and unfortunately with regard to the encroaching shadows it is running on the down fast line. The first Romanian built 56 had not yet received its Whatley name at this time, but had already lost its original round buffers.

56001 Whatley passes Milton on 8 December 1992 with the 6C13 11:22 Calvert to Bath Avon Binliner, after having dumped another train load of Bristol and Bath's rubbish in a hole in the ground in the Buckinghamshire countryside. Milton Park trading estate is on the left, while on the right the Milton Heights to Didcot road can be seen running parallel with the railway.

With a wave from the driver, 56003 rounds the curve at Levington with the 4M87 16:04 Felixstowe North to Trafford Park freightliner on 25 July 1996. At this time Freightliner had a pool of four hired in Class 56s from Loadhaul to work the freightliner trains on the Felixstowe branch, handing over to electric traction at Ipswich. The single track branch could be a little restrictive at times and there was constant talk of doubling the line. 56003 has since been preserved, and retains its Loadhaul livery.

What a combination! Loadhaul liveried 56003 and Network SouthEast liveried 73129 head the 10:20 Toddington to Winchcombe service past Hailes, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala on 24 September 2005. With 3,300hp available, 56003 could handle a train of twice this length and still have power to spare, but as it is air brake only and the stock is vacuum braked, the Class 73 is acting purely as a brake translator.

56003 & 37324 catch a little weak sunlight as they pass Didbrook with the 14:40 Cheltenham Racecourse to Toddington service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala on 24 September 2005. By the late afternoon clouds had started to roll in from the south signaling an end to the day's photography, after a gloriously sunny day. Salter's Hill can be seen dominating the background.

Romanian built 56007 passes Cargo Fleet with a train of imported coal from Redcar on 22 September 1997. Note the replacement rectangular buffers.  This loco was subsequently exported to France to work on the construction of the LGV Est européenne high speed line. There are a surprising number of good photographic locations along the Middlesbrough to Redcar line, all with heavy industrial buildings in view, as here.

56008 passes South Moreton (near Didcot) with the diverted 6M28 10:15 Westbury Cement Works to Toton coal empties on 29 January 1992. This seems to be the only picture I have got of this particular Romanian built 'Grid', it being withdrawn a few months after this picture was taken to provide spares for its classmates, thus becoming one of the earliest Class 56s to be withdrawn. The large area of bramble bushes behind the loco marks the site of Moreton Sidings, one of a number of marshalling yards constructed in the area during the Second World War.

With a haze of blue smoke from the exhaust, and worryingly from the rear bogie, 56010 passes Wendlebury on the Bicester to Oxford line with the 6M43 14:08 Bicester Army Depot to Lawley Street coal empties on 27 November 1993. This was a regular Saturday diagram during the winter months bringing a variety of traction to the line. Unfortunately the timing of the train meant that the loaded train was severely backlit when going up to Bicester and then usually when I was around either the sun disappeared (as here) or else the loco came back light engine!

Plenty has changed since this view was taken at Wolvercote in 1982. Rail blue Class 56s on HAA wagons are a thing of the past and this panoramic view of Port Meadow is no longer possible as the lineside vegetation has grown to such an extent that all you would see now from this spot is a wall of trees! 56019 heads north on 8 September 1982 with an empty MGR train returning to the Midlands from Didcot Power Station. Oddly, it was following five minutes behind a similar train hauled by classmate 56017.

1998 witnessed many unusual locos working Virgin Cross Country services at the time when the company was desperately short of motive power. One of the most outrageous occurred on 20 June when 56019 worked down to Bournemouth in lieu of the normal Class 47. The sole surviving red-stripe Railfreight liveried Class 56 catches the very last rays of the setting sun as it approaches Culham returning north with the 1M81 18:14 Bournemouth to Manchester Piccadilly, which it worked as far as Birmingham New Street. 

56022 & 56025 pass the ARC stone terminal at Oxford (Banbury Road) as they run parallel with the traffic on the A34 at Water Eaton on 18 August 1991 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z36 06:28 Manchester Piccadilly to Paddington 'Strider' railtour. This tour was a means of getting people from the north of England to the Old Oak Common Open Day. Obviously it would not be possible to use a pair of Romanian built Grids on the mainline today, and neither would it be possible to repeat the route of this tour, which is here traversing the former LMS line from Bletchley to Oxford. Although the section as far as Calvert Junction remains open, further east the line has been closed for a number of years and in places is in a very overgrown state.

56025 passes Hawarden on 15 June 1996 with the 6F41 13:24 Warrington Arpley to Dee Marsh Enterprise, running a staggering four hours late! The train is entirely comprised of timber from Scotland. 56025 was withdrawn in April 2002 and was cut up at Booths, Rotherham in March 2009.

56031 Merehead approaches Circourt Bridge, Denchworth on 25 April 1986 with the 6V11 10:03 Wolverton to Stoke Gifford ARC stone empties. This location changed out of all recognition in the following two decades, as this view of 60074 in 2009 proves. Virtually everything has changed including the signaling and the bridge in the background, to say nothing of the huge increase in vegetation (thankfully only on the north side of the line) and the reinstatement of the relief lines. Unfortunately the Class 56s & PGA stone wagons are also no more!

On 7 April 1990, 56031 Merehead approaches Oxford with the 6V11 10:03 Wolverton to Tytherington ARC stone empties, unusually running on a Saturday. The train has just come down the former LMS line from Bicester, and Class 122 departmental 'bubble car' 975042 can just be seen in the background standing in the down loop, waiting to gain access to the single line that the 56 has just vacated.

56031 shunts steel wagons in Goole Docks on 6 December 1997, prior to working the 6J50 11:34 steel empties to Rotherham. Note the crude patch painting (not even in the right shade of grey!) where the depot plaque and Merehead nameplate have been removed from the loco's bodyside. Unfortunately before I could get many pictures of this interesting working it was taken over by the dreaded Class 66s.

You can almost feel the cold looking at this picture! 56032 Sir De Morgannwg / County of South Glamorgan approaches the footpath crossing behind Hodge Hill Garden Centre at Kidderminster on 14 December 1996 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z56 07:07 Bristol Temple Meads to Guildford 'Rooster Booster' railtour. Although the sun which was out weakly when I arrived had decided to disappear into high cloud, for once I think the muted colours and soft light make an excellent picture. Unfortunately the light level was very low (note that a street light is still on to the right of the locomotive) and I had to take the picture with the lens wide open. I am quite surprised that the depth of field is this good considering it is taken on a 100mm lens.

56032 approaches Drem with the 6B44 11:15 Oxwellmains to Powderhall Binliner empties on 4 October 2001. The East Coast Mainline to the east of Edinburgh is not blessed with many good photographic locations, but this one has less lineside clutter than most. Typically the sun disappeared just before the train came into view, but as this is the only time I have got a picture of a Class 56 on this train and I am certainly not going to get another chance, it will have to do!

56033 passes Corsham on 30 April 1993 with the 4C13 11:21 Calvert to Bristol binliner empties. The viewpoint had recently been opened up somewhat by the removal of trees and bushes near to the track. This train has seen a considerable variety of traction over the years, starting off with 47s, then changing to 56s, 60s, 37s, 58s, and then the inevitable 66s.

56034 & 56048 pass Hungerford Common on 3 September 1984 with the Purfleet to Merehead Foster Yeoman stone empties. Double headed 56s were the order of the day on the heaviest stone trains at the time, but of course all that would change a couple of years later with the introduction of the super powerful Class 59s from General Motors.

The driver of 56035 has a snooze, while the secondman reads the newspaper during a typical lengthy period of inactivity in the course of an engineering possession at Whitley Bridge Junction on 31 May 1997. The train is parked on the branch to Eggborough Power Station. At this time of course Class 56s would be far more likely to be seen at the head of MGR coal trains at this location, either to Eggborough, or via the lines on the right, to Drax.

With just a trace of weak winter sunshine, 56036 passes Denchworth on 7 February 1987 with the 6V11 10:03 Wolverton to Stoke Gifford ARC stone empties. Although a little awkward, as the bridge is situated on a very sharp bend in the road, this was an excellent vantage point prior to the erection of a pair of enormous signal gantries on either side of the bridge in the 1990s. With hindsight I should have taken more pictures from this spot rather than the much more popular Circourt Bridge a mile to the west.

56037 Richard Trevithick just finds a patch of sun, but unfortunately with typical railway photographer's luck, the rest of the picture is in cloud. The location is Hungerford Common, and 56037 is working the 6A18 05:00 Robeston to Theale oil train on 3 September 1984. At this point the railway parallels the Kennett and Avon Canal, which can just be seen above the loco.

A picture that is totally impossible to recreate now. 56038 passes the site of Knighton Crossing (between Didcot and Swindon) with a Didcot Power Station to Newport Docks empty MGR coal train on 26 January 1980. A visitor to this spot today would not recognise it, as it is totally grown up, and it is no longer possible to take pictures from the cut off road to the old crossing. The fairly recent underbridge that replaced the crossing can just be seen in this view, with the line of the new road marked by the recently planted trees on the left. Although empty coal trains from Didcot once again use this route (now to Avonmouth), neither Class 56s or HAA wagons will be seen on these trains.

Not much work for the driver of 56038 Pathfinder Tours 1973 - 2003 as it brings up the rear of the Pathfinder Tours 1Z42 13:50 Margam to Crewe 'Valley Vostock' railtour on 7 February 2004, so he is reading the paper as the tour heads back through Ninian Park station. 60021 was on the front of the train.

56039 speeds through Grateley with the 6O89 06:45 Whatley to Woking ARC stone train on 14 November 1991. A very pleasant autumn day was spent at this location with a variety of trains and motive power that can only be dreamed off in today's highly standardised and predictable railway. Also unlike today there were no other photographers, despite the bright weather and the prospect of plenty of classic traction!

56040 Oystermouth brings up the rear of the Hertfordshire Railtours 1Z33 08:03 Paddington to Tower Colliery 'Faulty Tower' railtour on 21 October 1995. 33116 & 33109 were leading the tour, but as they were heading up the valley they were unfortunately coming straight out of the sun. However, this convenient mound of spoil made an excellent vantage point to photograph the grid quietly smoking away on the back.

56040 Oystermouth passes Morganstown on the Taff Vale Line with the Hertfordshire Railtours 1Z33 'Faulty Tower' railtour returning from Tower Colliery on 21 October 1995. 33116 & 33109 can just be seen on the rear of the train. The tour would later traverse the Cwmbargoed line, but I didn't bother to travel that far west as it would have been just as the sun was setting. I was very lucky with the light here, as although the train is perfectly lit, Castell Coch in the woods in the background definitely isn't!

56040 Oystermouth & 33019 Griffon pass Congerstone in superb light with the 10:00 Shackerstone to Shenton service during the Battlefield Line's Diesel Gala on 19 September 2009. I've had some narrow escapes with lighting while taking railway pictures, but this has got to be one of the closest calls. As the train came around the corner it was still completely cloudy. The sun just came out at the critical moment and as the coaches were passing me it disappeared again. A few seconds of sun just at the right moment! Of course in that situation the dark cloud in the background really stand out. In addition to the 'Carry On Clagging' headboard the loco is carrying a SN Shackerstone depot plaque.

Unfortunately in one of the cloudy periods during the Battlefield Line's Diesel Gala on 19 September 2009, but worth recording nonetheless, 56040 Oystermouth, 56086 & 73114 (brake translator) accelerate away from Market Bosworth with the late running 13:30 Shenton to Shackerstone service. There is a private airstrip in the field on the left, and the building in the background is in use as a hangar for a small private aircraft.

After waiting for ages for 56040 Oystermouth & 73114 to pass Congerstone with the 17:15 Shackerstone to Shenton service on 19 September 2009, the sun dropped into some high cloud just before the train was due, and although there is still a trace of light, this is not the result I had anticipated. The immaculately restored original Railfreight livered grid was certainly the star of the show at the Battlefield Line Diesel Gala.

56044 passes Water Eaton on 17 August 1988 with the 6M24 Tytherington to Wolverton ARC stone train. This location used to be very quiet, being some distance from the nearest main road, but during 1988 the A34 to the east of Kidlington was realigned, which entailed the construction of a brand new section of road in the fields between Kidlington and Water Eaton. Construction work can be seen in progress on the right of this picture.

I generally do not bother to photograph light engine movements, but this picture of 56044 Cardiff Canton passing the site of Challow station (between Didcot and Swindon) on 11 January 1992 is included here not only as it gives a good view of the site, but also as it makes an interesting comparison with the same location in 2008. The most obvious difference is that the former station's platforms were still intact in 1992. Unfortunately the other thing that is noticeable is the lack of maintenance of the bridge in later years. Whereas it is in relatively good order here, the fact that nobody on the railway paints anything anymore is all to apparent in the modern view.

56045 waits patiently in the drizzle, facing the wrong way on the down fast mainline at Lower Basildon on 6 January 1991 with a short formation Redland self discharge ballast trains during an engineering possession. It was fortunate that it wasn't moving as a Pentax 6x7 loaded with Fujichrome 100 is definitely not the ideal combination for these weather conditions!

You certainly had to get up early to photograph this train! 56047 passes the north end of Hinksey Yard at 05:25 on 14 June 1983 with the 6M20 03:05 Stoke Gifford to Wolverton ARC stone train. While it was easy enough to photograph the return 6V11 empties, a determined effort was required to get a picture of the loaded train! The sun had only just risen, but luckily there were nothing shading the line at this point. The poor technical quality is because this is really stretching what you can take on Kodachrome 64.

56046 passes Stockton Cut Junction with the 6G40 10:00 Hartlepool to Immingham gas pipe train on 22 July 1996. This was a short term contract that operated during the summer of 1996. Stockton Cut Junction is where the lines from Hartlepool and Middlesbrough converge, and is ideally situated for a photo from the A66 bridge - if you can put up with the traffic!

56048 passes Milford Junction with the 4L79 16:13 Wilton to Felixstowe freightliner on 18 July 1996. A welcome change from the never ending procession of coal trains to nearby Drax and Eggborough power stations that makes (or at least used to make) this location a popular photographic spot. The sheer repetition of it meant I didn't visit that often.

On 15 November 1999, after a completely cloudy day, the sun finally broke through in the late afternoon producing the dramatic lighting seen here. 56048 is ready to leave North Blyth with the 6G69 15:00 North Blyth to Lynemouth alumina tanks. The setting sun glints on the alumina storage tanks, while the blades of one of the newly erected wind turbines can just be seen above the first wagon. The Honda that does all the wandering is parked on the right! Unbelievably I was the only photographer to witness this superb lighting that did actually persist long enough for another picture further down the branch.

56050 pulls away from a signal check at South Moreton on 16 November 1988 whilst working the 6V17 10:00 Allington to Stoke Gifford ARC stone empties. The overgrown area behind the train is the site of Moreton Sidings, laid during the Second World War to cope with the increases in freight traffic in the Didcot area.

56050 passes the site of Ashbury Crossing, Shrivenham on 22 June 1991 with the 6M24 04:35 Whatley to Wolverton ARC stone train. The white building in the background (near the site of the long closed Shrivenham station) is the Victoria Tavern, which has since moved upmarket and become the Fat Dog Restaurant, although how the name Fat Dog is considered more upmarket than Victoria is a mystery!

The sun is setting in the west, and 56054 just manages to dodge the worst of the encroaching shadows as it passes Langley on 6 November 1986 with the 6V90 11:48 Chislehurst to Westbury ARC stone empties. The Chislehurst stone terminal has since closed and houses built on the site. It was a very basic facility which required the use of a mechanical grab for unloading, hence the use of these former British Steel PTA iron ore tipplers, rather than hopper wagons.

56054 British Steel Llanwern runs alongside the Stainforth & Keadby Canal at Crowle with the 6D99 07:20 Hull Saltend to Immingham wagon transfer working on 31 May 1997. This Saturdays only working was used to move wagons between the two locations, but was always very lightly loaded, often with just one wagon, as here. Usually either a Class 37 or 56, either class was just a little bit overpowered for such a load!

56056 arrives at Princes Risborough on 15 May 1993 with the late running 6A70 01:30 Northolt to Calvert Binliner. This is the point where the up and down lines merge together again, after separating at Saunderton. 56056 marks a slight change in the front end design of the class, with the removal of the protruding lip above the buffer beam, and a larger, square horn grille. Note the Westbury 'White Horse' depot plaque.

Unfortunately just missing the sun, 56056 & 56103 Stora pass Croome on 27 June 2002 with the 6E39 16:47 Llanwern to Lackenby steel empties. This is another one of the rare locations that has actually improved as far as trackside vegetation is concern. In the mid 1980s this shot would not have been possible.

56062 approaches Oxford on 22 April 1986 with the 7V65 11:56 Desford Colliery to Didcot Power Station MGR working. At this time the majority of coal trains to Didcot (there were often as many as fifteen per day) were in the hands of Class 58s, so a relatively clean 56 in original Railfreight livery was a definite bonus. This picture is taken from the Walton Well Road bridge which is relatively traffic free, as it only leads to a car park on the edge of Port Meadow. The footbridge in the background is at the end of Aristotle Lane.

56062 is pictured at Melton Ross on 26 July 2003 with the 7C77 13:35 Immingham to Scunthorpe imported coal, passing 66601 which is heading the 6E55 10:03 Kingsbury to Humber empty oil tanks. Surprisingly given the amount of freight traffic on the line, and the then possibility of some Class 56 hauled trains, there is nobody on the popular footbridge at New Barnetby visible in the background. Class 60s were starting to take over these workings at the time, 60004 being seen just a short time earlier.

56062 climbs the bank towards Harworth Colliery, passing the golf course with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z56 05:34 Reading to Harworth Colliery 'Joint Line Jester' railtour on 17 January 2004. 47 853 was on the rear of the train. A crowd of photographers gathered around the footpath crossing generated a lot of the usual 'Is there a steam train coming?' questions from the golfers!

Towards the end of its life, 56063 acquired this unusual non-standard grey livery. It is seen here passing through Althorpe station with the 6D65 10:01 Doncaster to Immingham Enterprise service on 4 May 2002. Quite why somebody has decided to highlight the area formerly occupied by the Bardon Hill nameplate by painting it red with a white edge is a mystery.

There are numerous pictures of Class 56s working MGR coal trains from the Midlands to Didcot Power Station in the 1980s, but I have not yet seen many taken here, at their ultimate destination. On 12 June 1983, 56064 draws slowly forward into the unloading building prior to dropping its load of coal through the slatted floor. It would move through at 0.5mph, with the wagon doors being tripped by the blue actuators on the right. This was the worst possible conditions to try to take a photo, inside a dark building on a bright sunny day, resulting in an excessive contrast range. Considerable work using layers in Photoshop has been required to get an acceptable result from what looked like a very unpromising Kodachrome transparency.

In superb evening light, 56064 passes Ponthir with a featherweight 6M75 16:04 Avonmouth to Warrington (via Alexandra Dock Junction) Enterprise service on 5 August 1998. Even with the housing development on the left, Ponthir is an excellent locations for northbound trains in the evening, but unfortunately there is no chance of a picture of anything that comes the other way. Note the piles of steel sleepers stacked at the side of the track for imminent track repairs.

56073 Tremorfa Steelworks accelerates away from the Oxford pick up stop and crosses the Castle Mill Stream (a backwater of the River Thames) on 20 February 1994. It is working the Pathfinder Tours 1Z40 09:00 Reading to Sheffield 'Standedge Stomper' railtour. Amazingly, it has already had one change of traction, with 47823 working the short distance between Reading and Didcot Parkway. 56073 worked as far as Birmingham New Street, with 60066 onwards to Manchester Piccadilly, then 47356 to Wakefield Kirkgate, 58008 to Sheffield, 37358 to Derby, 31242 & 31285 to Crewe and 56033 back to Didcot Parkway, where 47823 (the only repetition of the day) was waiting to take the train back to Reading. Phew!

31 March 2004 was a sad day for Class 56 fans, with the final railtour marking the class's withdrawal from traffic on the national network. 56078 Doncaster Enterprise heads through typical Pennine scenery at Walsden with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z57 'Twilight Grids' railtour, running an amazing 50 minutes early. This caused consternation among the photographers on the hillside, as the sun had only just got round far enough to illuminate the side of the train, although this was better than some photographers who missed this section of the tour completely because of the unexpected early running!

Very difficult lighting conditions at Parkside Junction (near Newton-le-Willows) on 23 May 1993, with the sun right behind the train. Consecutively numbered 56084 & 56085 round the short and sharply curved freight only chord between Lowton Junction and Parkside Junction with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z46 17:05 Preston to Crewe 'Lancastrian Mini Excursion'. The line in the foreground is the Liverpool to Manchester line, famously the first passenger carrying railway to open in 1830.

56086 The Magistrates' Association passes Kings Sutton in superb evening light with the late running 6M17 15:00 Avonmouth to Rugby coal train on 19 May 1998. Although an ideal time of year for photography at this location with masses of hawthorn blossom by the track and in the hedges, those same bushes are just starting to cause a problem with shadows being cast across the line, so I was certainly relieved that it wasn't any later!

This was probably the highlight of the day for most visitors to the Battlefield Line's Diesel Gala on Saturday 19 September 2009. 56086, 56040 Oystermouth & 73114 (acting as a brake translator) pass Carlton with the 13:00 Shackerstone to Shenton service. It should have been even more impressive, as it was originally intended to have 56098 included in the train as well!

56086 & 73114 (acting as a brake translator) approach Market Bosworth with the 15:15 Shackerstone to Shenton service on 19 September 2009, during the Battlefield Line's Diesel Gala. The traffic cone shaped headboard reads 'Coanheads On Tour'!

56086 & 73114 (acting as a brake translator) round the curve at Congerstone with the 15:45 Shenton to Shackerstone service on 19 September 2009, during the Battlefield Line's Diesel Gala. Plenty of grid bashers in the first coach!

At the time, an everyday occurrence, now a part of history. On 25 October 1995, 56088 curves off the Eggborough power station line at Whitley Bridge Junction, with MGR empties bound for nearby Gascoigne Wood opencast mine. The main line here is in fact virtually a freight only line, with numerous coal trains to Drax power station being the main traffic, and only a very infrequent Knottingley to Goole passenger service.

56088 approaches the level crossing at Hambleton West Junction with the 6G33 10:57 Eggborough Power Station to Lindsey oil empties on 24 May 2001. It is just about to turn right onto the chord between Hambleton West and South Junctions, prior to joining the East Coast Mainline, which it will travel on as far as Joan Croft Junction, before turning left onto another freight only link to Stainforth Junction. The Gascoigne Wood coal loading point can be seen in the background.

56091 Castle Donington Power Station approaches Cambois on 22 July 1996 en-route from Tyne Yard to Blyth Power Station with a loaded MGR, one of a several daily coal workings along this line at the time. Unfortunately a rather dull misty day, but note St. Peters Church, West Sleekburn (built in 1867) visible on the horizon.

Pairs of Class 56s working freights were certainly not common and were usually the result of a failure, as is probably the case here. 56095 Harworth Colliery makes a smoky departure from Milford Sidings with 56091 Castle Donnington Power Station on 25 October 1995. Milford Junction (Monk Fryston) is a popular spot to photograph coal trains heading for nearby Eggborough and Drax power stations, although apart from unusual events like this it can get a bit monotonous!

56100 & 56089 Ferrybridge 'C' Power Station pass Whisker Hill Junction, near Retford with the 1Z70 10:03 Sheffield to Cottam Power Station special on 5 September 1993. This was one of a number of special trains run in connection with the Worksop Open Day. The high level lines here connect with the East Coast Mainline, while the line the train is on burrows underneath it.

56101 passes Bletchingdon on 17 August 1988 with the 7V85 13:58 Toton New Bank to Didcot Power Station MGR. At this time there was still a possibility of seeing Class 56s on coal trains from the Midlands to Didcot, although the majority of workings were in the hands of Class 58s, such as 58034 seen a little earlier on this day. Also in the short while I was at this location 47327 passed by with 6O36. It was this variety of traffic and traction that made railway photography so interesting in the 1980s, in marked contrast to the depressingly dull freight scene today, where virtually everything has the same traction.

56102 passes the 1886 built Manchester, Sheffield & Lincolnshire Railway signal box at Medge Hall (between Scunthorpe and Doncaster) with the 6M99 15:53 Immingham to Wolverhampton steel train on 6 September 1999. The signal box controls the level crossing, but this is not overly busy, as it is not a through road, merely leading to various farms on Crowle Common. Just out of the picture to the right is the equally little used Stainforth & Keadby Canal.

During the early 1990s a pair of relief lines were reinstated between Wantage Road and Challow on the Great Western Main Line, principally to cater for the then new Avonmouth to Didcot Power Station coal trains. On 21 February 1993, 56105 & 56054 are pictured standing on the recently laid down relief line near Grove with a Redland stone train after ballasting operations further up the line. At this time the up relief line had not yet been laid. The driver told me that the train would stay in this position until 21:00, when the whole ensemble was due to be hauled back to Didcot by a Class 37. The site of former Wantage Road station is just beyond the trees in the background.

The final rays of a weak winter sun illuminate 56105 as it applies full power at Elsham with the 7G08 15:12 Immingham to Scunthorpe MGR on 11 March 1997. The old wheel operated gates seen here were replaced with lifting barriers in 2003. The old platform at Elsham was an ideal location to get westbound trains perfectly framed with the crossing and box, and with a splendid bracket signal in view as well.

56106 pulls away from Nottingham station with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z46 'Sector Swansong' railtour on 2 April 1994. A superb multi-traction tour to mark the end of the British Rail sectors it featured 47636 between Bristol Temple Meads and Nuneaton, 86613 & 86627 between Nuneaton and Northampton, 31105 & 31107 between Northampton and Willesden, 73141 between Willesden and Clapham Junction, 33030 & 73141 between Clapham Junction and Bedford, 58037 between Bedford and Leicester, 60098 between Leicester and Nottingham, 56106 between Nottingham and Derby, 20075 & 20187 between Derby and Crewe, 37675 and Crewe and Stafford, and 47823 between Stafford and Bristol Temple Meads!

56108 passes Llangewydd (between Bridgend and Port Talbot) with the 6B69 Llanwern to Port Talbot coal empties on 15 April 1991. By this date sectorisation had taken hold and many locos were appearing in the new triple grey sector liveries, but there was still plenty of variety with original Railfreight, and as here, the later Red Stripe Railfreight livery on my many locos. Note the milepost on the left indicating 193¼ miles from Paddington.

56110 passes Allandale (between Polmont and Cumbernauld) with the 6D16 14:00 Grangemouth to Motherwell fuel oil tanks on 23 July 1999. This was a Fridays only working and nominally booked for a Class 60. Despite the gloomy weather, I was certainly pleased to see a Loadhaul Class 56 rather than a 60, although of course ten years later I would be pleased to see a Class 60 rather than a 66!

56112 passes Cambois on 22 July 1996 with the 6G64 Blyth Power Station to Tyne Yard MGR empties. Unfortunately this scene can no longer be repeated as not only are there no Class 56s on the national network in the smart Loadhaul livery, but Blyth Power Station closed in 2001 after 43 years of operation, so bringing to an end all coal movements along this line. At the time Blyth Power Station was the oldest coal fired power generating station in Britain.

56114 Maltby Colliery stands amid the recently completed Avonmouth Bulk Handling Terminal during gauging trials on 25 June 1993. Along with 60077 (which can just be glimpsed through the bunker in the background) and 37887, it was used with rakes of HEA wagons for checking clearances through the new structure, prior to services of imported coal starting to Didcot Power Station. This saw a switch of supply for Didcot from home produced coal from the Midlands to imported coal from around the world, supposedly as a 'greener' alternative due to its lower sulphur content. Although, of course the pollution caused by transporting it halfway round the world was ignored!

70 minutes early was translated into 50 minutes late by the time the Pathfinder Tours 1Z58 17:43 York to Bristol Temple Meads 'Twilight Grids' railtour departed York on 31 March 2004, due to 56078 & 56115 not talking to each other. The multiple working problem was resolved by running the locos around, so it was 56115 Barry Needham that was leading classmate 56078 as the train hammered through Church Fenton in failing light.

56118 crosses the swing bridge over the River Ouse at Goole with the 6D54 14:36 Hull to Doncaster Enterprise on 24 May 2001. This bridge was severely damaged in 1973 when a barge collided with it, and there was a possibility of this section of line being closed permanently as a result. Happily this was not the case. It is still opened occasionally for river traffic, which I can vouch for personally, as a train I was on returning from Hull one evening was held up for a considerable time when the bridge was swung open to allow a ship to pass.

Loadhaul liveried 56118 & 56107 race past Eckington (between Abbotswood Junction and Cheltenham) with the Worksop Open Day Committee's 1Z56 05:40 Worksop to Paignton 'Worksop Riviera' railtour on 2 August 2003. The tour was running half an hour late at this point, as a TPWS fault on 56107 necessitated the loco being run round prior to departure. However, some smart running saw most of the tome made up, the arrival at Paignton being just 2 minutes late.

56119 approaches Onibury with the 6M29 11:38 Llanwern to Dee Marsh steel coils on 20 August 1995. This was one of two northbound steel trains that ran over the Welsh Marches line on Sundays during the 1990s, the other being the 6M30 10:56 Margam to Dee Marsh, which would have passed this spot approximately two hours later, usually with Class 60 haulage. Very little walking is required to get to this spot as the Onibury to Bromfield road is only just over the hedge on the left, running parallel with the railway.

56120 rests on Knottingley depot on 19 July 1992 in between Aire Valley coal duties. At this time virtually all MGR coal trains to the nearby Drax and Eggborough Power Stations were worked by Knottingley 56s, still using 1960s built HAA hoppers, some of which can be seen in the background.

56123 Drax Power Station pulls its train of HAA coal wagons slowly through the MGR unloading bunker at Cockenzie Power Station on 23 July 1996. The train had originated at the Blindwells opencast mine just a few miles away. This picture was taken with full permission of Scottish Power, as this is definitely not a publicly accessible spot. It is difficult to appreciate from this picture, but this dead end line is situated on a high embankment, and the ground dropped away sharply right behind where I stood! The power station is located near the Firth of Forth, some distance away from the unloading bunker. This brief burst of sunshine was the one during the day.

In a bizarre coincidence on 23 July 1997, I saw 56123 Drax Power Station exactly one year to the day since I had last seen it in Scotland on MGR duties. Here it seen approaching Drongan on the freight only Killoch Washery to Annanbank Junction line with the 7R83 13:20 Killoch to Ayr Falkand Yard coal.

56125 passes Standish Junction with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z40 06:40 Manchester Piccadilly to Plymouth 'Plym-Exe Cursioner' railtour on 1 May 1994. This was run in connection with the Exeter Rail Fair. The 56 was replaced by 59004 at Westbury. The track layout at Standish Junction has been slightly altered since this photo was taken. The diamond crossing under the first coach has been replaced by a pair of points.

56132 passes a fine example of an upper quadrant semaphore signal complete with sighting board, as it approaches Elsham on 11 March 1997 with the 7E34 08:00 Tuesdays and Thursdays only Ashton-in-Makerfield to Lindsey empty Total oil tanks. 56132 was withdrawn in January 2000 and after languishing at Wigan Springs Branch for several years, was finally cut up by C. F. Booths of Rotherham in June 2006.

56133 Crewe Locomotive Works propels a couple of steel wagons back towards Goole station from the dock area on 7 February 1998, running as the 6J50 11:34 Goole Docks to Rotherham. Although by this time a Class 08 shunter had been deployed at Goole in view of the upturn in traffic, previously the train loco (usually a Class 56) traveled the entire length of the dock lines, involving considerably sharper curves than the one 56133 is pictured on here.

56135 Port of Tyne Authority & 56068 pass Askern on the freight only Knottingley to Doncaster line with the Pathfinder Tours 'Donny Deviator' railtour on 10 July 1994. It was certainly living up to its name, and at this point is pictured running as the 1F51 13:48 Doncaster to Doncaster (via Drax Power Station). Other locos involved in the tour included: 58034, 37694 & 37698, 56077, 60002, & 31271 & 31276. Those were the days!

After only two years away from the national rail network, the Class 56 renaissance has begun. Private operator Fastline has reinstated three machines, with possibly more to follow. Initially they will operate a Doncaster to Thamesport freight service. On 17 April 2006, 56302 (the former 56124) passes Old Denaby with a Doncaster Belmont Yard to Barrow Hill test train.

56302 passes Watford (on the Northampton loop line) with the 4O90 11:01 Doncaster to Grain Intermodal on 21 September 2006. After a perfectly sunny day, the clouds were now rolling in from the west, but although now a little weak, the sun obligingly stayed out for this train and the following 6A42 Enterprise, and then just disappeared! It had been a very warm day, despite the wind, which became stronger during the day. This presented a few problems here, as clumps of leaves were being blown off the ash trees behind me, and falling across this view. In fact a particularly large clump almost obscured the front of the 56, just dropping out of the frame as I pressed the shutter!

The first railtour utilising a Class 56 since the farewell tour of March 2004. 56302 runs parallel with the Stainforth & Keadby Canal at Crowle with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z56 14:29 Doncaster to Crewe 'Grid Arising' railtour on 30 September 2006. Unfortunately, despite some early brightness,  the sun had disappeared by the time the train came.

56302 rounds the curve at Immingham East Junction with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z56 14:29 Doncaster to Crewe 'Grid Arising' railtour on 30 September 2006. A tricky spot for photography, as a decision has to be made whether to chop the rear of the train off, or go for the full panoramic view. I decided to use a moderate wide angle to include the whole train (or at least all that was visible as it emerged from the bushes).

56302 emerges from Kirton Lindsey Tunnel with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z56 14:29 Doncaster to Crewe 'Grid Arising' railtour on 30 September 2006. A decision was taken to wander down from the station to this spot as the sun had gone in, and shadows would no longer be a problem. You can guess what happened when the 56 was due - the sun came out! Luckily when it actually appeared out if the tunnel, the difference wasn't too marked, as the sun had found some more high cloud.

With a wave from the driver, 56303 accelerates the 4O90 10:44 Doncaster Railport to Thamesport (Isle of Grain) Fastline Intermodal train past Hexthorpe on 28 July 2008. Luckily this was running an hour late, which not only meant that the sun was just starting to appear on the front of the loco, but also that there actually was some sun, as it was completely cloudy at the booked time! The train is just a few minutes into its journey, having started from just around the corner to the right. A well loaded train, which was not normally the case when the service first started running.

Unlike some photographers, I very rarely take pictures of light engine movements, as I believe that generally they just look ridiculous. However, as I was already at Uffington on 27 August 2008 and a Class 56 was due, I made an exception! 56311 passes the site of Uffington loops with the 0Z57 12:35 Portbury Dock to Derby Fastline route learner, in preparation for a forthcoming coal service from Portbury Dock. The appearance of the Hanson Traction 56 in lieu of the more normal Fastline loco on this working was a bonus. This seems to be my favoured location for the very few light engine workings that I photograph, having seen 47840 here in February 2007.

56311 & 56312 Artemis pass Washwood Heath yard on 22 November 2008 with the 6Z57 06:19 Immingham Dock to Washwood Heath Colas steel train. Despite the apparently sunny day, there was in fact a large bank of cloud to the west and the sun only came out fully as the train came into view. Initially running as a four week trial this new freight flow sees the welcome return of 'Grid' haulage to steel traffic, although a purple 56 is a bit of a culture shock! Note the grade A listed Fort Dunlop in the background, at one time the largest factory in the world.

With horns blaring, 56311 & 56312 Artemis pass Lower Moor with the 6Z56 13:10 Long Marston to Bescot on 16 April 2010, conveying twenty TEA oil tanks. Unfortunately, although there was a reasonably long sunny spell just before, and progressively more sun during the afternoon, there just wasn't any at the critical moment! Although no doubt I will soon discover some long lost gem, as far as I know this is my first picture of a Class 56 on the Cotswold Line.

56311 & 56312 Artemis pass under a surprisingly traffic free M5 motorway at Lower Wick on 26 June 2010 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z80 05:47 Tame Bridge Parkway to Penzance 'Cornishman' railtour. The tour was following twenty minutes behind 37259 & 37218 with the Spitfire Railtours 'Kernow Explorer'. I hope Gordon had a good birthday (see headboard)!

56311 passes the site of Challow station on 16 July 2011 with the 6Z56 13:00 Cardiff Tidal to Hoo Junction scrap empties. As the train was running 80 minutes late, and three HSTs had just preceded it, there was no need for it to take the booked route along the relief line from here to Wantage Road. After a lengthy sunny spell, it had just started to cloud up, which was probably just as well, as it was getting extremely backlit.

56312 Artemis & 56311 pass Swarkestone with the 6Z56 07:35 Washwood Heath to Immingham Dock Colas steel empties on 24 November 2008. This location on the Stenson Junction to Sheet Stores Junction line was chosen for the remaining autumn foliage, but not surprisingly when the sun was fully out the spot was unfortunately plagued by shadows from the trees on the left. It was probably fortunate then that when the 56s appeared the sun was behind some high cloud, which softens the contrast and yet still lights the front of the train nicely.

In superb low winter sunshine, 56312 Artemis passes East Goscote with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z59 05:22 Westbury to Tuxford 'Pye Bridge Pie-Man' railtour on 12 December 2009. Sadly neither the good light or the near on time running would last all day! 59204 had worked the tour from Westbury to Kettering.

After standing around in the sunshine for ages, by the time the late running Pathfinder Tours 1Z59 05:22 Westbury to Tuxford 'Pye Bridge Pie-Man' railtour arrived at Thoresby Colliery Junction on 12 December 2009, it had decided to cloud up! After picking up a pilot for the short trip up the High Marnham branch, 56312 Artemis accelerates away past the junction. Unfortunately, any hope of a quick turn around to make up time was dashed, with the tour getting even later!

56312 Artemis crosses Great Hale Fen in the drizzle on 14 December 2009 with the 6Z57 13:30 Boston Docks to Washwood Heath imported steel. A day of persistent cloud and intermittent drizzle, which as this was very near the shortest day resulted in it being very nearly dark at the time the train was due. A setting of ISO 1600 was required, even with the lens virtually wide open.

I don't normally bother photographing light engine convoys, but as I was already in position at this location, I made an exception in this case. It is also a bit more interesting on this occasion, featuring two different heritage locomotive classes, each in a different (and quite striking) post privatisation livery. 56312 Artemis & 47739 Robin of Templecombe pass over the footpath crossing at Little Haresfield on 19 January 2011 with the 0Z76 12:00 Washwood Heath to Tavistock Junction move.